Ever turn your back on realizing your potential?

[GQguy]

Ever turn your back on realizing your potential? As in you could have done something more rare, unique, difficult or challenging yet you turned your back on it. What could you have done and how have you dealt with living your life knowing you could have been more?

GQ

 

[PiedPiper]

...facinating question, GQ

Ever turn your back on realizing your potential? As in you could have done something more rare, unique, difficult or challenging yet you turned your back on it. What could you have done and how have you dealt with living your life knowing you could have been more?

GQ

_____________________________

Short answer, yes. But the choice being made at the time was the choice of devoting all time and effort to a single pursuit, rather than following a more eclectic path which provided a greater variety of outlets and experiences. So,... rather than staying in the ad agency business for the rest of my life, I quit when I was early 30's,.... and have had a couple other rewarding careers on top of it,.... music, construction, outdoor adventure education. I still managed to teach sporadically,... write plenty of magazine and syndicate pieces,... But I think I did realize my potential by NOT specializing. The world contains many interesting things. It's a shame to miss them.

 

[GQguy]

I'm at a similar crossroads myself. One career will have me pushed to my limits, and plenty of prestige for life. The other career will be slower paced and ill enjoy life much more. But it wouldn't be me maximizing my potential. I fear regretting my decision either way. "woulda shoulda coulda"

 

[c7_assassin]

I often think about how different my life would have been if I hadn't left the Army. At the time, I was quite sure this was me embracing my potential, but since then I've had my doubts.

If you actually feel like you have the answer, I suggest you take the road less travelled. You don't want to turn bitter and regretful in your old age.

 

[kopfhorer]

I would add that it helps to have a guide along if you're taking the road less travelled. Even if it's someone to just cheer you on and steer you away from the major potholes.

 

[pfromptown]

I did a creative writing module at University for what you yanks would probably call "An extra credit", even though it was nothing to do with my proper degree, and the marks I got for it have easily outweighed anything I have received for any other subject since. At the end of the module the lecturer asked me if he could walk me to his office and once we were there he tried to attempt to make me switch to creative writing as he thought I could do it professionally. I said no because I hadn't planned for it and enjoyed the other stuff I was doing, but I often wonder what path my life may have taken if I'd taken him up on it.

At the end of the day, in my experience you'll always wonder what might have been but that doesn't make it helpful. Focus on the here and now, dude. do what will make you happy 🙂

 

[Coup de Grace]

I have. Years ago, I had several opportunities to venture forth and have a decent career (what I do now isn't bad), but I was afraid of failure and wary about leaving familarity and my comfort zone behind. In the end, everything worked out though.

 

[Capnmad]

I'm at a similar crossroads myself. One career will have me pushed to my limits, and plenty of prestige for life. The other career will be slower paced and ill enjoy life much more. But it wouldn't be me maximizing my potential. I fear regretting my decision either way. "woulda shoulda coulda"

Life's once and done.

Prestige? What's that? Life's equivalent of having the high score on a video game. Someone else will eventually come along and have one higher.

Regret? What's that? The belief that some other path you did not take would lead to a reward exceeding your current level of enjoyment.

To Hell with high scores and regrets. Life is only a competition of this sort and these matters only arise when dueling with a sense of insecurity. Find what you enjoy, and enjoy the Hell out of it. We all have talents. Maybe pursuing one you'd have great success. Maybe in another, you'd have phenomenal success, making you a celebrity or fabulously wealthy. And maybe in pursuit of another, little success, coming slowly (if at all), but you enjoy every step all along the way, and not only if you succeed at the end.

Can you guess the path of my pursuits? Life is short. If you see opportunities for happiness, take them.

 

[TonyInMyThroat]

I don’t believe Jeff & Myriads would appreciate the additional storage & bandwidth costs required for me to get into this with any detail.

 

[Bohemianne]

No. But so far half the time, I spent all efforts to stay equipped and avoid getting sick.

 

[kopfhorer]

Life's once and done.

Prestige? What's that? Life's equivalent of having the high score on a video game. Someone else will eventually come along and have one higher.

Regret? What's that? The belief that some other path you did not take would lead to a reward exceeding your current level of enjoyment.

To Hell with high scores and regrets. Life is only a competition of this sort and these matters only arise when dueling with a sense of insecurity. Find what you enjoy, and enjoy the Hell out of it. We all have talents. Maybe pursuing one you'd have great success. Maybe in another, you'd have phenomenal success, making you a celebrity or fabulously wealthy. And maybe in pursuit of another, little success, coming slowly (if at all), but you enjoy every step all along the way, and not only if you succeed at the end.

Can you guess the path of my pursuits? Life is short. If you see opportunities for happiness, take them.

(Virtual standing ovation)

 

[Libertine]

Succeeding at something you don't like to do is a cruel victory, one without savour.

 

[kopfhorer]

Succeeding at something you don't like to do is a cruel victory, one without savour.

Another very astute observation! (Another virtual standing ovation!)

 

[coldneck]

You seem like a gung-ho hard-charger GQ.
By the sound of your post, it seems you are leaning toward the challenging fast-lane option, which seems to suit you well.
It's not the safe route, but it's likely the most rewarding.

 

[BlackestLily]

Life's once and done.

Prestige? What's that? Life's equivalent of having the high score on a video game. Someone else will eventually come along and have one higher.

Regret? What's that? The belief that some other path you did not take would lead to a reward exceeding your current level of enjoyment.

To Hell with high scores and regrets. Life is only a competition of this sort and these matters only arise when dueling with a sense of insecurity. Find what you enjoy, and enjoy the Hell out of it. We all have talents. Maybe pursuing one you'd have great success. Maybe in another, you'd have phenomenal success, making you a celebrity or fabulously wealthy. And maybe in pursuit of another, little success, coming slowly (if at all), but you enjoy every step all along the way, and not only if you succeed at the end.

Can you guess the path of my pursuits? Life is short. If you see opportunities for happiness, take them.

Gotta agree with the Capn on this one.

 

[coldneck]

Succeeding at something you don't like to do is a cruel victory, one without savour.

I'm seriously going to print and frame this quote and hang it in my office.

It seems to be an original. A sturdy salute to you sir!